Page 8 - Wayfinders EE Guide 03-18
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Benefits
Medical Insurance
Tips for Using Your Medical Benefits
Ask questions when in doubt.
If you are having a procedure or planning an upcoming procedure, make sure you know how the procedure will be covered
and what your out-of-pocket cost will be, if any.
Use urgent care centers versus hospital emergency rooms whenever possible.
Frequently, patients seek the services of the hospital emergency department for ailments or injuries that could be treated more
economically, and just as effectively, at an urgent care center. It is not always easy to determine when you should choose urgent
care over the hospital emergency department. The following lists offer some guidance, but are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Examples of URGENT CARE situations Examples of EMERGENCY situations
Any illness or injury that would prompt you to see your Any accident or illness that may lead to loss of life or limb,
primary care physician including but not limited to: serious medical complication or permanent disability
• Accidents and falls including but not limited to:
• Sprains • Chest pain*
• Back problems • Seizures
• Breathing difficulties • Shock
• Abdominal pain • No pulse
• Minor bleeding/cuts • Unconscious or catatonic state
• High fever • Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination or balance
• Vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration • Severe abdominal pain
• Severe sore throat or cough • Severe or uncontrollable bleeding
• Mild to moderate asthma • Broken bones or compound fractures
• Severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Spinal cord or back injury
• Severe burns
• Major head injuries
• Ingestion of poisons or obstructive objects
• Animal, snake or human bites
*If you believe you may be experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately! Do not drive yourself to the emergency room!
Use generic and over the counter drugs when available.
The best way to save on prescriptions is to use generic or over the counter medications as opposed to brand name drugs.
When you use generic medications, you will pay the lowest copay. Generic drug companies do not have to develop a
medication from scratch, so the costs are significantly less to bring the drug to the market. Once a generic medication is
approved, several companies can produce and sell the drug. This competition helps lower prices. In addition, many generic
drugs are well-established medications that do not require expensive advertising. Generic drugs must use the same active
ingredients as the brand name version of the drug. A generic drug must also meet the same quality and safety standards.
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